Form

How to fill in the application for permission to supply new large goods trailers to be used on the road

Updated 4 November 2024

Use this information to assist with filling in the application for entry into service consent for a large goods trailer O2, O3 and O4 category trailers.

Section A - General

1a Applicant details

Provide full company details and a contact name within the company.

The application for consent has to be submitted by the final supplier of the trailer.

A final supplier is someone who runs a business of supplying trailers to end users.

End users cannot apply for consent.

If you’re an end user who has been supplied a trailer, for which a consent is required, and no consent has been obtained for that trailer you need to contact the supplier of the trailer.

1b Manufacturers details

Provide full details of the manufacturer including company registration number if applicable.

The manufacturer of the trailer may also be the final supplier. If this is the case, please complete both section 1a and 1b.

2 Trailer Details

2a Trailer Identification Number

Provide the trailer identification number (‘C’ Number) if one has been issued to the trailer in advance of the issue of a consent.

2b Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Provide the number in full, including all digits of the 17 digit chassis number.

The VIN is unique to each trailer and will be displayed on the:

• manufacturer’s plate
• accompanying approval certificate of conformity

If your application is for a quantity of identical trailers, then a single application form can be submitted supported by a schedule listing the trailer Vehicle Identity Numbers (VINs).

2c What is the category of trailer?

The category of trailers are defined as:

• O2 - trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 750kg, not exceeding 3,500kg (only applicable to trailers with an unladen weight exceeding 1020kg and fitted with power brakes)
• O3 - trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 3,500kg but not exceeding 10,000kg
• O4 - trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 10,000kg

‘Maximum mass’ is either the static vertical load transmitted to the ground by the axle or axles of the semi-trailer or centre axle trailer when coupled to the towing vehicle and carrying its maximum load (the summation of the design axle weights). It doesn’t include the load imposed on the towing vehicle through the coupling.

In general, a trailer of category O3, O4 and some O2 trailers used for the carriage of goods will require Plating under the Goods Vehicle (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988.

For a list of those trailers which don’t require “Plating” refer to Schedule 2 of the “Plating and Testing” regulations.

Those listed in Schedule 2 don’t require ‘consent’.

Trailers used under ‘Special Type General Order (STGO)’ regulations do require consent.

2d Trailer commercial name and model

Give the commercial name (for example Schmitz Cargobull) and model description (for example SKO24) for the trailer.

2e Trailer layout

Drawbar Trailer

This is a towed vehicle with at least two axles, of which at least one is a steered axle and:

• equipped with a towing device which can move vertically (in relation to the trailer)
• transmits no significant static vertical load to the towing vehicle (less than 100 daN)

Centre Axle Trailer

This is a rigid drawbar trailer where the axle(s) is (are) positioned close to the centre of gravity of the vehicle (when uniformly loaded) so that only a small static vertical load, not exceeding 10% of that corresponding to the maximum mass of the trailer or a load of 1,000 daN (whichever is the lesser) is transmitted to the towing vehicle.

2f Date when manufacture was completed

The month and year must be filled in.

You can get the date the manufacture of your trailer was completed from either:

• the manufacturer’s information plate
• the manufacturer

Section B - Approval

3 Trailer Compliance

Most applications submitted for trailer consent will be required to be accompanied by an approval certificate.

The types of approval acceptable and any limitations that may apply are listed below.

Type of approval	Limitations
GB WVTA	A national Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) issued by the UK Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) allowing an applicant to obtain a consent to supply in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) only.
UK (NI) WVTA	A national WVTA issued by the UK VCA allowing an applicant to obtain a consent to supply in Great Britain (GB) or Northern Ireland (NI).
EU WVTA (without GB Provisional)	A WVTA issued by a European Approval authority allowing an applicant having a trailer with a date of manufacture before 1 January 2023 to obtain a consent to supply in the UK, and on or after 1 January 2023 to obtain a consent to supply in Northern Ireland only.
Provisional GB WVTA	A national WVTA issued by the UK VCA allowing an EU approval to be authorised as a GB approval from 1st January 2023 allowing an applicant to obtain a consent to supply in the UK.
Qualifying NI Goods	An approval issued by a European Approval authority to a trailer on which the final stage of build/completion has been carried out in Northern Ireland allowing an applicant to obtain a consent to supply in the UK. For the full definition, see Statutory Instrument 2020 – 1454 Regulation 3.
Small Series Approval	A national approval issued by the UK VCA under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020 Part 3 Chapter 1 allowing an applicant to obtain a consent to supply in the UK.
VCA IVA	A national Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) issued by the UK VCA under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020 Part 3 Chapter 2 allowing an applicant to obtain a consent to supply in the UK.
DVSA/NI IVA	A national IVA issued by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (Great Britain) or the Driver Vehicle Agency (Northern Ireland) under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020 Part 3 Chapter 2.

Where a GB, NI or GB Provisional Approval number is displayed on a Certificate of Conformity either as the original approval number or in the notes/remarks box of a certificate retaining the original “e” approval number, additional evidence of the GB approval/provisional approval will not be required in addition to the Certificate of Conformity. Where this is not the case, additional evidence of compliance with the GB approval will be required in addition to the Certificate of Conformity.

A trailer issued with a Consent to Supply valid in Northern Ireland only will not be issued with “Plating” documents.

3c Trailers that do not require approval to obtain Consent to Supply

Approval is not required for entry into service consent if the trailer is:

• a “complete trailer”, manufactured on or before 29th July 2012
• a “completed trailer”, manufactured on or before 29th July 2013

However, the applicant should also submit form VTG2L prior to the submission for a first annual test.

For trailers without approval, plates will be issued at the first annual test, so long as form VTG2L has been submitted not later than one month in advance of the first annual test.

3d Has any system or component on the trailer been modified since being previously approved?

Any modification to a component or system included in an approval used to obtain a certificate of conformity in relation to the trailer could result in an approval being invalidated.

In these guidance notes:

• a “complete trailer” means a trailer which has been manufactured in a single stage (by a single manufacturer)
• a “completed trailer” means a trailer which has been manufactured in more than one stage (by more than one manufacturer)
• a VTG2L application form is used with the current procedures to apply for a first test trailer examination to be carried out

Before granting consent the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can, at its discretion:

• undertake an inspection on the trailer (or arrange for such an inspection to be undertaken)
• carry out such tests on the trailer as they think fit (or arrange for such tests to be carried out)
• request that evidence be produced to support information provided on the application form

Section C - Plating (trailers subject to plating only)

4 Brakes, tyres and suspension

4a What type of brake system is fitted?

This relates to the basic mode of operation of the braking system. The transmission of braking effort to the wheels.

Where a braking system is primarily operated by air, although incorporating an electronic control system for example Anti-locking Brake System (ABS) or Electronic Brake System (EBS), the system is considered to be an ‘Air’ system.

A hydraulic system is one that primarily uses hydraulic fluid to transmit braking to the wheels, be it air or vacuum assisted. An electric brake is one where the foundation brake is operated solely by electrical energy.

4b Type of parking brake system?

The parking brake is the brake which is used to hold the vehicle stationary whilst parked.

Indicate the method of operation, this is normally:

• spring brake on a large trailer
• cable-operated on a smaller trailer

4d Does the Trailer have anti-lock brakes (ABS)?

Some trailers with ABS brakes are fitted with a load sensing valve, some aren’t. Please indicate which applies.

4e Does the Trailer have an Electronic Braking System (EBS)?

All EBS systems are assumed to include ABS. Tick whichever box applies, for example ABS or EBS, not both.

Electronic Braking System means an electrically controlled pneumatic or hydraulic braking system which will revert to air control if the electrical control system should fail.

4f Which tyre use condition applies? (2B, 2J, 2R)

The tyre use conditions allow for use of tyres of a lesser capability under specific conditions.

Tyre Code	Condition
2B	No special condition
2J	The use on roads of the trailer is limited at all times by a local authority or a person acting in pursuance of a contract with local authority for road cleansing, road watering or collection or disposal of refuse; night soil or the contents of cesspools, or for the purposes of the enactments relating to weights and measures or the sale of food and drugs and at speeds not in excess of 40mph and only within a radius of 25 miles from the permanent base from which it is normally used.
2R	The use on roads of the vehicle is limited at all times to speeds not in excess of 50mph and subject to the requirements to display at the rear a “50” plate in accordance with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Schedule 13 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999, Schedule 16. 2M Operation of a low platform trailer fitted with tyres of 20 inch rim diameter or below and carrying a rectangular plate 7” x 9” displaying the letter “L”.

4g Tyre/suspension fitment details.

Specify the tyre size and type.

The size and type can be obtained from the tyre manufacturer’s side wall markings for example the size being 8.5R17.5 or 10R22.5, the type being “radial” or “crossply”.

The “load index” and “speed rating” are also displayed on the tyre side wall markings, a typical marking being for example “156/150L”.

“156/150” being the code that is used to establish the tyre’s carrying capacity and the ‘L’ being the speed rating code indicating the speed up to which the tyre can carry the designated weight.

“Twin” or “Single” indicates whether the tyres are fitted in twin or single formation like two on each side of the axle or one on each side.

Section D - Value added tax or custom duty

This section on the form is for trailers imported from a place outside of the United Kingdom only.

Value added tax or Customs Duty

If applicable tick the checkbox in this section.

By doing so and signing the declaration in section E, you declare that this condition is satisfied.

This declaration is necessary for all vehicles imported into the United Kingdom but isn’t required for those trailers constructed within the United Kingdom or those transferred after first use between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Trailers imported from outside the European Union must have import duty and VAT identified on the Customs Declaration (Single Administrative Document HMRC form C88) and evidence of Customs clearance retained (in the form of the E2 CHIEF print or commercial equivalent).

Trailers imported to the United Kingdom from elsewhere within the European Union must have the acquisition tax due identified at outputs box 2 of the relevant VAT quarterly return. For more information on this item only, see www.gov.uk/hmrc or contact HMRC enquiries on 0300 200 3700.

Section E – Data Protection, Declaration and signature

Make sure the form has:

• been signed
• been dated
• your name printed in full

If the application is to be submitted electronically, please make sure your name is typed into the signature space.